Colorado

United States of Sports: Mikaela Shiffrin in Vail

She credits her Colorado hometown with helping her find her calling. It was on the beautiful, tree-lined slopes of Vail that she honed her masterly technique.

At 22, Mikaela is already a pioneering force in the world of alpine skiing. At the 2014 Sochi Olympics, she became the youngest slalom gold medalist in Olympic history. She has also won slalom gold at three-straight world championships, the first woman to do so since 1939. And in 2017, she realized a childhood dream of securing the coveted World Cup overall title. The skiing prodigy is poised to one day topple Lindsey Vonn’s record of 77 World Cup victories. Mikaela Shiffrin is on a world-beating pace.

Mikaela describes Vail as an “epic playground” – a family-friendly paradise for winter sport novices and experts alike. There are a million things to do, both on and off the slopes. And when you’re done being active, it’s easy to find a hot glass of coco, a delicious meal, and a perfect “après ski” activity. Summer brings its own attractions, including world-class concerts courtesy of Bravo! Vail. She recommends a day trip to bustling Denver or the world-famous Red Rocks Amphitheatre. But don’t cut your time in Vail short. Because in Mikaela’s eyes, there’s no place like it.